african president.h it is 7:00 p.m. eastern time here in new york, 2:00 a.m. in johannesburg where mourners are gathering. they are celebrating the life of south africa's first democratically elected president. you looking at the scene. a man who became a towering symbol for civil rights for strength, for unity.

>> days to come, we will bring you extensive coverage, detailed coverage of his life, president obama spoke about mandela minutes after his death was announced, here is what he said. >> we will not likely see the likes of nelson mandela again. so it falls to us to be the example he set, to make decisions guarded not by haste, but by love. never discount the difference that one person can make. strive for a future that is worthy of his sacrifice. >> . >> right now let's pause and give thanks the r the fact that nelson mandela lived, a pan who took history, in his hands. bent the arc of the moral universes towards justice, may god bless his memory, and keep him

at peace. >> the president of the united states, again, live pictures in outside nelson mandela's home tonight, and here in new york, a live picture of the apollo theater, the same the venue in harlem, tonight the marque honors nelson mandela. here is a picture of the marque, we are getting ready for a live shot. we have consider spot don'ts automobile across the united states and the world. we also have guests hire in the studio, right now my colleague is here, talk a little bit about the incredible significance of this man, and what his passing means in. >> absolutely. john, i was in that home in south africa, in johannesburg, and this is really a moment of self-definition for the country. >> why is that? >> because they have a lot of reforms they are still trying to work there. first is poverty. you a large majority of the country that is still living in rural areas and they are living below the line. which is one reason why the current president is

a symbol figure because he has the education of a 6th grader and he was a sheep herder. which mandela -- is a smaller group of black africans and it is a tribal clan that has produced nelson mandela, becky, but zula is a zoo loo leader. and this is a moment where black south africans are trying to reclaim the south african identity, and he was a symbol of their inclusion. >> this is going to a week celebration, at least, for nelson mandela, and i think that -- there was some who thought maybe they would wait until the morning to announce his death. >> but they didn't wait, and it is very -- as we with can see, it is the 2:00 a.m., and the crowd has just begun to get started. days of celebration. >> this is a very african way of celebrating life.

and they are just beginning to redefine, and define his legacy, and what it will look like for years to come. for example, his grandson who is a close friend of mine, he is becoming the mandela campaign. which is is a foundation of rend braking the image of africa. you also talk about indians in south africa, explain. >> mandela is the symbol of contemporary nonwhite. >> it is where gandhi got his inspiration for leading a peaceful nonviolent protest. and so india and south

africa really do -- as a very personal symbol of progress in the country, and independent. >> i just want to get a little it into african-americans in the quite and the effect it will have on them as well. >> there is a huge community of expates african-americans living in south africa currently. and they very much see the opportunity in south africa as being unmatched. many of them when they spoke to me said you know, this is like 1960s america. and i wasn't alived to see 1960s america personally, but they told me that the opportunity, and the ground, the landscape for opportunity in south africa is unmatched and unparalleled. and they think they can see progress in south africa, that they feel like has maxed out in terms of growth. >> all right, we are going to come back to you, and get more insight on this incredible event, and what will be coming in the next few days, morgan, thank you. we want to go to the

white house now. mike, take it away. >> john, i don't think it is too much to say, the life, the times the struggles of nelson mandela have resonance in the very presence of the white house. there's the obvious point that his father is from the same continent. ed. >> the first time that president obama had ever spoke to a public audience. was on campus on this very issue. the president spoke very

elegantly very somberly, he has met nelson mandela, just one time, it was here in washington, in 2005, he traveled to south africa several times, 2006, he went to robin island, where nelson mandela spent the bulk of his 27 years of incarceration. he was there with his family this past june, he wasn't able to see nelson mandela, obviously because of his failing health. let's listen to more of what the president said when he appeared in the briefing room. >> at his trial in 1964, nelson mandela close add statement from the dock, saying i have fought against white domination, and i have fought against black domination. i have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony, and with equal opportunities. it is ran ideal which i hope to live for, and to achieve.

but if needs be, it is an ideal before which i am prepared to die. nelson mandela lived for that ideal, and he made it real. he achieved more than could be expected of any man. food he has gone home. we have lost one of the most influential, courageous, and good human beings that any of luis share time with on this earth. he no longer belongs to us, he belongs to the ages. >> it is difficult to overstate the influence and inspiration that he had on president obama. i'll read a little bit more, the president said i cannot fully imagine my life without his example. nelson -- the example nelson mandela set, so long as i live,ly do what i can to learn from him there's one episode that

the president had come back to, president obama, and that is when he finally was released from jail, in an event that ultimately vaulted him to be the leader of south africa, he did not seek revenge, he did not secret tri-bias, he embraced those that jailed him, to reconcile with those that jailed him, was an inspiration to him. let me ask you a question, do we know anything about the president's schedule, and whether we may be traveling to south africa? >> we do expect the president to travel to south africa for the funeral, the attribution on this is a little dicey, but we can say that is probably effective. >> leaders around the world are reacting to the death, and at there are plans for a great celebration funeral and david is here to talk about that, david?

>> yeah, the official state -- is going to come on day nine, this is a ten decor yoking fewed that they have been working on for a long time, in fact, it started today. where his body was taken to an undisclosed mortuary, starting tomorrow, the government will place condolence books in embassies all over the world, as well as government buildings all throughout south africa. on day three, there will be formal invitations that will be issues to world leaders. such as the leaders of including the former president george hw bush, and george w bush, anybody that serves on the world stage will get their invitations on day 3, and then starting on day 5,dy. four is a logistical day, when you will see the first public funeral, and it will happen at the soccer stadium, where they held the world cup in 2010, 94,000 people, you can imagine the kind of long lines will be

just for the public to get into the state memorial service. nelson mandela's body will be moved. on day seven, that's when his body will lie in state. and then undawning and then finally on day 10, is when things ram up with the private family burial. so every day there will be pictures and opportunities for the world to express its condom lenses and grief and this is the initial planning. well, each day is pretty much firm. they are fearful that the number of clouds and logistics coordinating so many wormed leaders is not something that south africa may have been preparing for. they anticipate it, but coordinating is nothing like they have seen since

the death of i don't think kennedy. >> more on nelson mandela's life. >> he was a prisoner, and a president. a violent revolutionary and a moderate reformer, he was the face of change, in turbulent south africa. his smile, and his frank powerful weapon in the fight for racial and political equality. >> many people don't see it, that it is useless for us to continue talking peace and nonviolence, against the government -- he is on these salvage attacks. on an unarmed defenseless people. >> the black mane that would lead away from racial separation and minority white rule was born in 1980 teen. he grew up in a rural roadless area near the south eastern coast, born to tribal royalty, he was adopted and raised by a chiefton after his father's death when he was just nine.

he was the first in his family to attend school. he stepped down and joins a boycott over conditions at the school. he moved to johannesburg, studied law and joined the african national congress, a political party and resis tent movement fighting the segregation that was so devicive in south africa. those divisions brew even sharper. complete racial separation the resettlement of 3 million people to black homelands. denying they right to vote and travel. themson mandela was only 30. he soon became convinced peaceful demonstrations would never be enough to uproot the oppressive racist structure. so he helped form and run an armed grill ha

movement. a campaign of bombings and sabotage in the early 60's, led to his arrest and prosecution. along with others in the movement. >> convicted by spare as death sentence, he would send a quarter of a century behind prison walls. 18 of those at the notorious robin island. outside the fight only grew more fierce, the oppression and the violence focused the word on the racism. boycotts choked off the economy, mandela became the most famous prisoner in the word. the off international condemnation and growing domestic unrest chipped away at apartheid until finally mandela was released from prison. it was february 11th, 1990, the streets flowed with joy. and the man who had become a powerful symbol of resistence, walked free.

>> vowing never to go back to what he called the black held of apartheid. >> i have spoken about freedom in my lifetime. your discipline, your commitment, has lift me to stand before you today. but freedom wasn't easy, to reform the government has to play peace keeper trying to temper escalading violence between his party and supporters of the freedom party who wanted no part of negotiations with the government that had helped them down for so down. thousands were killed. also his marriage to winny mandela, a powerful

political force herself was crumbling. the woman who supported him so publicly, was accused of having affairs and some of the murder rouse violence. they finally divorced. through it all, in 1994, he was able to vote for himself, in a free election. he won, and was inaugurated as the first black president of his country. your hard work to elect a president of your choice. >> he served one term, leading reformed in child healthcare, modernize the infrastructure and pushing for racial healing.

while his close relationships with foreign leaders drew some criticism, he still visit the white house a number of times meeting with three sitting american presidents. in 2002, george w bush presented him with the presidential medal of freedom. barack obama met mandela only one in 2005, when obama was still a senator. nelson mandela. >> when south africa hosted the world cup tournament in july of 2010, he made his last major public appearance at the final games. the crowd honoring him with a thunderous ovation.

>> never, and never agai again, shall it be will gain the experience, the oppressive, of one by another. and suffer the indignity of things to some of the world. >> signing up the effects are so glorious, a human achievement. god bless africa. in 1990, he visited new york and nearly 100,000 people gathered in harlem to hear him speak. tonight, outside the apollo theater, marque

honored nelson mandela, that's where jordan martin is standing by, what are you hearing tonight? >> first john, it is pretty evidence you can see the marque you just mentioned it says in memory ol' nelson mandela, he changed our world. a lot of people here in hair held, and in new york in general remember when he came here, actually the marque was a big part of it. it said welcome home mr. and mrs. mandela. there were a huge crowds here, more than 100,000 people, there was a huge parade. a lot of people we spoke to today found out about his death as they were leaving work, and seeing this marque. and for people here, his sit sit brought a bit of hope. a lot of people remember him riding by is pointing at the apollo theater. he just mentioned how his visit game hope. people just appreciated

him making the stop, when he could have stop sod many other places. so certainly sadness, and a lot of fond memories coming from the people that were here those years ago. so jonathan -- what else is expected -- are there any events expected to happen at the apollo tonight? >> well, not tonight, like i said -- you just have started here. people are finally just stopping by, many people sharing memory as lot of people have stopped by to speak to us, and say i remember back in 1990 that we were standing -- we were here on top of the marque. some people remember being -- really at this point no sort of planned memorial, or anything, if you will, just a lot of people here sharing fond memories. but i am sure there are some things in the work. >> in harlem tonight, jonathan, thank you. there's been reaction from around the world, and we want to read some of it to you.

bill clinton released this statement. history will remember nelson mandelaar a champion for human dignity, and freedom, for peace and reconciliation. >> president clinton said we will remember him as a man of uncommon grace and some passion, and embracing adverse say, not just a political strategy, but a way of life. president clinton posts a photo of himself with mr. mandela on twitter, for his millions of followers. and former president georgeh.w. bush was in office when mandela was released from prison. barbara and i had great respect for president manage della, and send our condolences to his family and countryman. former president george wildcats bush, and former first lady laura bush are among those expressing their condolences. they release add

statement that read, president mandela is one of the great forces for freedom, and equality of our time. he bore his burdens with dignity and grace, and our world is better off because of his example. this great man will be missed, but his contributions will live on forever. let's go to ray swarez live in washington, d.c., with more from washington. ray? >> you know, john, listening to those tributes from former american presidents, you have to remind yourself that it wasn't such a clear thing to american leaders that nelson mandela was a hero. or a leader of any kind. he was widely referred to in the 60's, 70's, and 80's, as a terrorist by some american elected officials. there was a great deal of reluctance on the part of the ragan administration to allow sanctions to go ahead as the world began to coalesce in opposition to apartheid government. so it was only when

congress had a veto proof majority, that sanged war able to go ahead late in the second term. it wasn't all together clear to oh people that nelson mandela was a hour row, or that he should be released and allowed to lead a free south africa. when you look back at the history, and ronald ragan, and the prime minister, and the world terrorist being use inned the same breath as nelson mandela, it is hard to remember those times. because he is so beloved and the point of view has changed so much. talk about toward and his relationship? >> well, he recognized

that a lot of the power, and late in the antiapartheid movement, a lot of the money that spurred that movement ahead, came from the united states. and while he had many detractors here in america, he also had many supporters and he recognized that a free south africa would need the support and the help of the united states both officially, and from its people in organizations and organization contacts. to succeed is in the era of liberation. he bulled off a very interesting trick. he had been supported during his long captivity, by many leaders who were persona in the west, people like muammar gaffe dad few, yasir arafat. and when it came time for liberation, he never

turned his back on those men. an interesting show, but also a canny, strategic way of thinking about the future of this country. he became the brand of a new rebranded south africa. >> all right, ray swarez, thank you very much. the celebration continues just beginning as you can see in the live pictures. tonya page is standing by, with more on that, tonya? >> yes, we have been here for several hours and really i think we are hearing the opening verse of what will be a long song of tribute we will hear played out over the coming days. people come together, really choosing at this moment to celebrate the life of nelson mandela. mourn his passing, of course, an event that

millions of south africans knew it was coming, they didn't know when, a bit of. >> a outpouring of emotion, and they are really remembering him. and the life and the legacy, and the gift that he gave the sacrifice he gave for this country. people of all walks of life, all religion i don't knows, all colors and ages gather here. this is the south africa that nelson mandela dreamed of. >> talk a little bit about -- south afterdan people were so protective of nelson mandela, especially in his final days and now that his death is finally come there's so much planned after his death.

what is is expecting in the coming days. >> . >> the military possibles are not saying exactly which one. notified by now of a need to make their plans in order to get here, in time for the funeral. they will be lying in state, which at the moment is supposed to only be one day, and that will be before opportunities to see him, to pay their respects in person after which his body is supposed to be transferred to the union in victoria, where there will be a state funeral that will televised by

the board pass tor, so that everyone can be involved and hear the words. not only family members but all of the dig nit tears would be here, after which his body would be transferred to his home village. which is in the eastern cape. quite a rural area, and it would be a private funeral that the family will hold there. >> .

>> we 11ed just a few hours ago that nelson mandela had passed away. the at the time is still a shock, and it is a great shock.